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In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, and to help businesses understand the benefits from apprenticeship, the U.S. Department of Commerce is releasing a beta version of a return-on-investment (ROI) calculator. Apprenticeships allows workers to learn skills on-the-job while earning a paycheck and graduating with an industry-recognized credential, and often an academic degree or credits as well. Registered apprenticeships have an 80-year history in the United States, dating from the National Apprenticeship Act. Since then apprenticeships have been focused on preparing workers for critical construction jobs in our economy. As outlined in the Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America, our country needs to apply lessons learned from that tradition to develop skilled workers for many other sectors where apprenticeship is well suited but only in its infancy.

Since data.gov launched in 2009, nearly 200,000 data sets have been posted for public use, including data on everything from public safety to affordable housing to weather. Access to that information is relevant to all of our daily lives, but for some people, it could be the key to keeping a roof over their heads or connecting them with the job they need to keep their family financially secure.

About the Economics & Statistics Administration

The Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) plays three key roles within the Department of Commerce (DOC). ESA provides timely economic analysis, disseminates national economic indicators, and oversees the U.S. Census Bureau (Census) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In this latter role, ESA works closely with the leadership at BEA and Census on high priority management, budget, employment, and risk management issues, integrating the work of these agencies with the priorities and requirements of the Department of Commerce and other government entities.